I am a post-doctoral research at Washington University in St. Louis. My research focuses on ecological and evolutionary consequences of urbanization on Anolis lizards. This group of tropical lizards has a remarkable ability to rapidly adapt to changes in the environment, and many species thrive in urban areas. In my research I try to understand why some species thrive in these areas while others do not, how they use urban habitats, and how common these adaptive shifts are. In other words, why and how are animals evolving to keep up with drastic and rapid anthropogenic change?
I am also broadly interested in reptiles and amphibians, but really am a naturalist at heart with a soft spot for all living things. Take a look at the CV & Publications tabs to learn more about my research. Also check out my blog posts to hear about the latest things I’m up to and my blog posts on Anole Annals as a contributor.
Quick News Updates!
11/16/18 – Migrating the site to kmwinchell.com. Stay tuned!
11/13/18 – New manuscript out! Following the “Synthesis in the City” workshop last year, we wrote a perspective piece on the future of urban evolution with Ruth Rivkin leading the 26 person effort. Manuscript is out now: Check it out!
9/28/18 – I launched a new blog! Along with Lindsay Miles (U. Toronto) and Elizabeth Carlen (Fordham) – “Life in the City: Evolution in an Urbanizing World“
8/12/18 – I’ve been in London for about a week now kicking off a new research project on urban foxes! Post coming soon… But first, the annual Evolution conference at the end of this week. If you’ll be there check out my poster on 8/21 on urban lizard locomotor performance.
7/11/18 – I just finished the first field trip of my post-doc research in the Bahamas! I’m expanding my urban lizard research in exciting new directions. Preparing now for a European adventure in a very different taxa, but related direction. More on that soon!
6/4/18 – The manuscript on my sprint speed project linking urban morphologies to performance in urban habitats has been published online at Proceedings of the Royal Society B! It will be incorporated into a special invited edition on urban evolution to be released in August.
Site updated 4/5/2018. More improvements coming soon!
Adaptability 